Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Massachusetts to exclude abortion services from state-funded health care did not collect enough support by a deadline this week to advance to the next step of the process, according to the treasurer of the ballot group.

“We just didn’t get enough signatures,” said Robert Aufiero of the Massachusetts Alliance to Stop Taxpayer Funded Abortions. “People are disappointed, but they are not discouraged.”

As a result of a 1981 Supreme Judicial Court decision, Massachusetts is one of 17 states in the country where state-funded abortions are allowed.

A coalition that supports abortion rights, including Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and the state ACLU cheered the reported demise of the effort.

“We are gratified that our founding document will not be undermined by a small group of people trying to force their dangerous agenda on the women of the Commonwealth,” they said in a statement.